Mat cutter



'a'rch 16, 1937.

MAT CUTTER Filed May 22, 1936 gwucwbo'a John C. Steinmetz J". c.STEINMETZ 2,073,855 2 Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oeriee2,073,855 MAT CUTTER John C. Steinmetz, Jackson, Mich. Application May22, 1936, Serial No. 81,216

, V 17 Claims.

This invention relates to cutters and particularly to cutters adaptableto cutting framing mats. a

An object of the invention is to provide a mat cutterhaving a, bodyslidable on the work and a blade projectable from the bottom of the bodythrough the work.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutter having apivoted blade in combination with indicating means to show the points atwhich the out should be started and stopped.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cutter, mounted ina guidable body, which will out a beveled edge.

A further object is to provide a cutter pivoted in a body and inclinedto the line of cutting in a straight out and to the tangent to a curvedout. A still further object is to provide a cutter which may readilyfollow a curved templet.

These and other objects will be apparent from the specification whentaken with the accompanying drawing in which Fig.1 is a perspective Viewof the invention in i operating position,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cutting blade showing the blade holderin dotted outline, and,

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the radius arm used with the body portion whenmaking circular cuts. I

The purpose of the present invention is to provides, small inexpensivemanually operable device particularly for cutting mats to prepare theusual mats or mat frames. For the sake of appearance the inner edge ofthe frame is beveled and it is this bevelededge that is formed by thepresent invention when cutting out a center portion of a mat board toprovide a frame.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the reference character[designates a body in which a blade 2, mounted in a blade holder 3, ispivoted. The body I in working position, and as shown, rests on itsbase, the blade 2 projecting from an inwardly spaced portionofthe base.A face of the body I is straight and in making a straight out in a mator other sheet the body I is guided in a straight line by moving it withthe side 4 in contact with a straight edge suitably placed. I

As the body I rests on a mat or other sheet to be cut the blade 2 isnormally forced thereby about thepin 5, on which it is pivoted, into thebody I. It is manually urged out of the body I by pressure on the fingerpiece 6 projecting from the forward end of the body I which causes it topivot about the pin 5 and, when the body is held on a mat, for instance,the blade extends into the mat. The blade should extend sufficientlyfrom the body I to pass just through the material to be cut. Thisdistance is determined by the stop I which is in the form of a screwmanually adjustable into and out of the body I. The stop 1 is adjustedto extend outwardly a distance determined by the thickness of the matbeing out and functions to limit the inward movement of the finger piece6 which results in limiting the outward movement of the blade 2.

When it is desired to make a circular cut the radius arm 8 having acenter pin 9 is inserted in the opening I0 through the body I, and it issecured in adjusted position by the thumb screw II. It will be clearfrom the description thus far that by holding the center pin 9stationary with one hand and by urging the body I against the mat to becut with the other and at the same time pressing the finger piece 6toward the body I to project the blade}, a circle may be cut.

My invention may also be used to cut out an elliptical or otherirregular portion having curved sides, from a mat. To do this a templetmust first be made. The templet is held against the mat to be cut overthe portion to be removed. Tacking has been found to be a convenientexpedient for holding the templet in position. The body I is then urgedagainst and moved around the templet, the blade 2 being projected fromthe base of the body I by pressure on the finger piece 6 as before. Inorder that the body I have a constant point of contact with the templet,there is provided in the body I a curved recess I2 which is fittedagainst the templet during cutting. The curve of the recess I2 is ofsomewhat less radius than the curves of the templets generally used sothat the actual guiding is done 'bythe shoulders I3 and I4 at each sideof the recess I2. Thus the actual curvature of the recess I2 is oflittle importance.

The blade 2 is disposed between return bent portions I5 of the holder 3as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. The blade 2 is reversible andthe cutting edges I6 and the trailing edges I! are slightly convex. Theangles formed between the cutting edges I6 and the trailing edges I! aresuch that when the blade 2 is in. cutting position as shown in Fig. 2the trailing edge inclines slightly to the rear. The blade 2 is providedat its central part along the outer edge with two notches I8 eacharranged to register with a hole 75 vided especially for this purpose.

I9 through the return bent portions I of the holder 3. It is through thehole I9 and one of the notches I8 that the pin 5 about which the holder3 and blade 2 are pivoted extends. When it is 5 desired to use thesecond cutting edge I6 it is merely necessary to reverse the blade 2registering the second notch I8 with the hole I9.

The blade 2 and the holder 3 are pivoted about the pin 5 in a slot 25.The pin 5 is removable for 10 the purpose of permitting the removal ofthe holder 3 and blade 2. The slot 25 is downwardly inclined to the face4 to make a beveled cut in the mat being worked on and also has aninclination to the forward end wall 26 of the body I such that its lineof intersection with the base makes an angle of the order of fourdegrees with the face 4. The purpose of the latter inclination is todetermine the angle taken by the blade with respect to a out being madeand is to prevent the blade 2 from jumping out of a cut as it is beingmade. This feature is an important characteristic of the invention andis particularly desirable in making curved cuts. While in appearancethis angularity would at first blush seem to force the body I away froma straight edge or templet its effect is wholly beneficial rather thandetrimental.

In using my cutter to cut a straight sided piece such as a square from amat the outline of the piece to be cut out should be drawn in withpencil on the back of the mat. In cutting a beveled edge with my cutterthe cut is always made from the back of the mat due to the inclinationof the blade 2. Normally difiiculty would be en- 5 countered indetermining the exact place at which to place the body I in starting andstopping a out due to the fact that when the body is placed on the matto begin a cut the blade 2 is within the body I and is invisible to theoperator, and when the cut is completed the blade 2 is projected, andrelatively to the body I, is further forward. The difficulty is overcomeby marking on the back of the recess I2 a starting line 21 and astopping line 28. These lines are apart a distance approximately equalto the forward travel of the blade 2 as it is pivoted about the pin 5 inbeing projected from the base. It is observed that by locating the lines21 and 28 at the back of the recess I2 it will be possible to see themat the base of the body I even though the face 4 be against a straightedge or a templet. To make a cut the face dis placed against a straightedge and the starting line 21 opposite the point the cut is to start.The finger piece 6 is then moved toward the body I to project the blade2 through the mat and the body I moved until the stopping line 28 isopposite the point the cut is to stop. One side of the piece to be cutout has then been cut. The others are cut in the same manner and thepiece bounded by cuts lifted out.

In making curved cuts it is important that the cutting edge of the blade2 be on the line perpendicular to the face 4 and passing through thecenter of curvature of the curve being cut. Ac-

cordingly the blade 2 projects from the base of the body I at a pointopposite the midportion of the recess I2.

The body I is also provided with a slot 30 perpendicular to the base andto the forward end 26. The blade 2 and its holder 3 may be removed fromthe slot 25 by removing the pin 5, and may be pivoted in the slot 30about the pin 5, which may be inserted in a hole 3I in the body I pro-The blade 2 in the slot 30 makes a straight rather than a beveled cut.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention makes possible the rapid and economical cutting of mats toprovide mat frames for pictures and the like and it will be obvious thatthis invention is not limited to the cutting of mats but may be usedwherever a cutter for equivalent sheet material is needed.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to protect by LettersPatent and claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a body, a work surfaceengaging face, a straight portion included by said body for guidingcontact with a straight edge while said face is in sliding contact withwork, and a cutting blade mounted within said body having a portionthereof projecting from said face and disposed at an angle to saidstraight portion and at an angle to the work surface.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body, a work surfaceengaging face, a straight portion included by said body for guidingcontact with a straight edge while said face is in sliding contact withwork, and a cutting blade pivoted within said body, manually projectablefrom said face and disposed at an angle to said straight portion and atan angle to the work surface.

3. A device of the character described comprising a body, a work surfaceengaging face, a straight portion included by said body for guidingcontact with a straight edge while said face is in sliding contact withwork, a cutting blade pivoted within said body, means for manualoperation for projecting said blade from said face, and means forlimiting the maximum projection of said blade from said face, said bladebeing disposed at an angle to said straight portion and at an angle tothe work surface.

4. A device of the character described comprising a body, a work surfaceengaging face, a straight portion included by said body for guidingcontact with a straight edge while said face is in sliding contact withwork, a cutting blade pivoted within said body, means for manualoperation for projecting said blade from said face, and an adjustablestop for limiting the maximum projection of said blade from said face,said blade being disposed at an angle to the straight portion and at anangle to the work surface.

5. A device of the character described comprising a body, a work surfaceengaging face, a straight portion included by said body for guidingcontact with a straight edge while said face is in sliding contact withwork, and a cutting blade mounted with said body and projecting fromsaid face, said blade being disposed at an angle to said straightportion and at an angle to the work surface, said blade having arearwardly inclined convexly curved cutting edge and a forwardlyinclined trailing edge.

6. A device of the character described comprising a body, a work surfaceengaging face, a straight portion included by said body for guidingcontact with a straight edge while said face is in sliding contact withwork, spaced parallel walls within said body inclined to said straightportion and to the work surface, and a cutting blade pivoted betweensaid walls.

'7. A device of the character described comprising a body, a worksurface engaging face, means included by said body for guiding the samein a curved path, a cutting blade pivotally 9. A device of the characterdescribed comprising a body, a work surface engaging face, a straightportion included by said body for guid ing contact with a straight edgewhile said face is in sliding contact with work, spaced parallel wallswithin said body .inclined to said straight portion and to the workface, the angle of inclination with said straight portion being of theorder of 4, and a cutting blade pivoted between said walls andprojectable from said face.

10. A device of the character described comprising a body, a worksurface engaging face, spaced parallel walls within said body, means forguiding said body in a curved path, a cutting blade pivoted between saidwalls and projectable from said face, said blade being inclined at anangle to the work surface and forming an exterior acute angle with thetangent to the curve at the point of cutting.

11. A device of the character described comprising a body, a worksurface engaging face, means to guide said body, a blade pivoted withinsaid body and projectable from said face, means on said body indicatingits starting position with respect to a cut to be made, and meansindicating the stopping position at the end of the cut to be made. I 1

12. A device of the character described comprising a body, a worksurface engaging face,

an extensible radius arm, means on the end thereof for fixing a centerof rotation for said body, and a blade pivotally mounted in said bodyinclined to the work surface and forming an obtuse angle with the radialline of the curve at the point of cutting.

14. A cutting blade comprising a thin blade, a cutting edge thereonhaving midway between its ends a pair of spaced recesses, a back forsaid blade opposite said cutting edge, and convex ends to said backfalling away from each cutting edge at an angle of less than 90.

15. A blade assembly comprising a holder comprising spaced parallelplates having opposed openings constituting receiving means for a pinfor pivotally mounting the holder, a blade mounted in said holderbetween said plates having a convex cutting edge projecting therefrom, aconvex trailing edge for said blade defining with said cutting edge anacute projection, and a recess in the edge of the blade comprising acontinuation of the cutting edge for engaging with a pin passing throughsaid openings to lock said blade and holder in assembled relation.

16. A device of the character described comprising a rigid body, a worksurface engaging face, means included by said rigid body for manualengagement for manipulating the device, a straight portion included bysaid body for guiding contact with the straight edge while said face isin sliding contact with work, a cutting blade pivoted within said rigidbody, manually operable means for projecting said blade from said face,and adjustable means for determining the amount of projection of saidblades from. said face.

17. A device of the character described comprising a rigid body, a worksurface engaging face, means included by said rigid body for manualengagement for manipulating the device, a straight portion included bysaid body for guiding contact with a straight edge while said face is insliding contact with work, a cutting blade pivoted within said body,means projecting from said body for engagement by a finger of theoperator for projecting said blade from said face, and adjustable meansfor determining the amount of projection of said blade from said face.

JOHN C. STEINMETZ.

